Abstract: A device for training and conditioning players in the hitting of a baseball. A conventional baseball is fixedly attached to the end of an elongated member which is slideably received in a hollow tube. The tube is supported in a substantially horizontal position on the end of a support rod which is vertically adjustable to place the baseball at a desired height, and rotationally adjustable to place the axis of the slide member at a desired angle with respect to the hitter. A coil spring within the closed end of the horizontal tube returns the slide member to its original position after being struck, and thus caused to move forcefully into the tube. The support rod, preferably two telescoping rods, is fixedly attached at its lower end to a flat support plate which rests on a horizontal surface during use of the device.

Abstract: A gameboard activation/deactivation system which tilts the gameboard after a predeterined time to deactivate the board and raises it to level for play upon activation.

Abstract: The bridgestick comprises a bridge attached to a stick comprised of telescopic sections and therefore adjustable in length. Length settings are maintained by lock apparatus operated by twisting each section relative to the one it engages or by friction elements. The bridge is rectangular in planform, no higher than the depth of two cue notches and no wider than the depth of one notch plus 102 to 110% of the diameter of the balls being used with the bridgestick. Elastic cord is stretched across each notch near the perimeter of the bridge to limit cue lifting and facilitate lifting and positioning the bridge with the end of the cue.

Abstract: The training aid has a handle with a fan section at its far end. The fan section provides resistance to swinging the handle. The fan section has a rotatable fan and a friction element which varies the rotational resistance of the fan.

Abstract: A ball throwing apparatus capable of releasing balls at selected intervals and selected trajectories, and operable from a remote location. The apparatus comprises a base and a throwing arm mounted on the base for pivotal movement between a ball loading position and a released position. There is a ball receiving aperture for holding a ball to be thrown mounted on the throwing arm. A suction cup element is positioned to be depressible by the throwing arm so as to releasably hold the throwing arm in the ball loading position. A slow leak is created in the suction cup for releasing the hold of the suction cup element after a short delay to allow the user time to prepare for the throwing of the ball. An actuating spring attached to the throwing arm acts to move the arm from the ball loading position to the released position upon release of the throwing arm by the suction cup element, the movement of the throwing arm between the positions resulting in a throwing motion.

Abstract: A football centering device. A cradle for a football is mounted at the end of a spring-loaded, pivotally mounted arm member that pivots in a vertical plane and which is mounted on an upstanding post. A latch holds the cradle in a cocked position near ground level until the player releases the latch with his foot. When the latch is released, the spring unloads and the arm swings upwardly in a vertical plane. The cradle at the end of the arm delivers the ball to the player in a manner that closely simulates the delivery of a human center.

Abstract: A method for the prevention of and the treatment for epicondylalgia externa, popularly known as tennis elbow, is disclosed. The method involves the absorption and dissipation of the vibrational shocks caused by the off-centre hitting of a tennis ball during pronation and supination of the wrist by use of a vibration absorbing pad fluid containing device covering either the extensor or flexor muscles of the forearm. The pad is shaped to conform with the extensor of flexor muscle in the forearm, is filled with a viscous fluid or semi-fluid which will flow enough to maintain a close contact with the muscle from wrist to elbow. The viscous fluid has a thermal conductivity of less than 0.1 W/(m..degree. C.).

Abstract: A practice golf tee includes a flexible tubular section, adapted to support a golf ball, and a threaded anchor section insertable into the ground and arranged to support the tubular flexible section perpendicularly relative to the ground. A detachable, user-actuable handle is provided for selectively inserting the practice golf tee into, and removing the practice golf tee from, the ground. Because the anchor section securely anchors the flexible tubular section to the ground, the practice golf tee need not be reinserted into the ground or repositioned before each practice drive. Thus, the practice golf tee is well suited for permitting golf practice from the grassy areas of a driving range or other practice site.

Abstract: A ball and target net game apparatus is set forth wherein a target net includes a perimeter framework securing a generally planar net wherein the frame work includes a plurality of forwardly extending horizontal legs and associated bracing to maintain the netting in a secure arrangement in use. The framework and the legs of the apparatus are telescoping to effect a compact structure easily stored when not in use. An inner net is selectively securable to spaced elongate straps longitudinally secured relative to the main net portion of the apparatus to provide a target in variable orientation relative to the main net.

Abstract: A method and device for the prevention of and the treatment for epicondylalgia externa, popularly known as tennis elbow, is disclosed. The method involves the absorption and dissipation of the vibrational shocks caused by the off-center hitting of a tennis ball during pronation and supination of the wrist. The device employs a vibration absorbing pad covering either the extensor or flexor muscles of the forearm. The pad is tightly located against the said muscles by means of an elastic tube from the wrist area to the elbow. An elastic strap, located outside the aforementioned tube around the largest diameter of the forearm and fastened by Velcro or like fasteners, is an additional member for maintaining the pad in close contact with the arm surface. The aforementioned pad, shaped to conform with the extensor or flexor muscle in the forearm, is filled with a viscous fluid or semi-fluid which will flow enough to maintain a close contact with the muscle from wrist to elbow.

Abstract: A device for batting and striking practice having a base assembly to provide a firm support. The base assembly has a threaded hole for receiving a lower tube. A sleeve encompassing a set of packing rings and an intermediate tube constitute a height adjusting mechanism. The intermediate tube engages with a spring and a protective housing, which in turn engages with an upper tube. A variety of batting or striking bodies may be mounted on and engage with the spring.

Abstract: A pool rack comprising an equilateral triangular-shaped frame having upstanding walls and a flange extending outwardly from the top of the frame for facilitating lifting the rack from around a group of pool balls. The rear wall of the rack, located directly opposite the apex formed by two side walls of the rack, comprises leaf-type springs molded as an integral part of the frame. The frame, including the springs is made of a resilient high-memory material. A push buttons is inserted through the springs and attaches to a push bar positioned along the rear wall. The push bar is urged against the balls by manual operation of the push buttons and is biased back toward the rear wall by the springs.

Abstract: A ball game practice apparatus having a ball supported at a lower end of a dangling elastic member suspended from a middle portion of an elongate lateral elastic member supported by and fixed at its ends to an elongated frame having ends thereof held above a support surface and a practice board having a rebounding board at a front face thereof. The frame includes downward displacement limiting members disposed between the ends of the lateral elastic member for limiting downward displacements of the dangling elastic member. The rebounding board includes a plurality of concave-convex faces positioned adjacent at least one end of the frame.

Abstract: A tabletop ball game has two-handled paddles for projecting a soft foam ball back and forth from end-to-end of a rectangular ballfield over a central ball bounce-deadening zone. The paddles each have a flat, round ball striking portion and two handles extending radially therefrom in coplanar fashion from diametrically opposed positions. Embodiments of the ballfield are described in the form of a top of a folding table, a rollable tabletop overlay, and a rigid conversion top for a pool table. Embodiments of the bounce-deadening zone take the form of a rectangular foam pad, a strip of carpeting, and a net horizontally hung across a gap.

Abstract: A pocket structure for assembly between two adjacent rail members of a pool table comprising a pocket defining insert having non-circular pin means extending from opposite ends thereof that fit and bind in apertures in the rail members to snugly secure them together in the desired position when the rail members are secured to a pool table frame.

Abstract: A batting practice device has an arm extending horizontally from the top of a vertical pole. A vertical tether descends from the arm, supporting a ball at the other end. A horizontal tether is attached to the pole and is slidably attached to the vertical tether above the ball.

Abstract: A training bat comprising a hollow cylindrical bat having a handle end and a striking end. A disk is positioned in the interior of the bat at substantially the center of the bat. A plate is positioned in the interior of the bat at substantially the end of the striking end of the bat. An object is slideably position in the interior of the bat and the object is moveable between the disk and the plate. A hollow chamber is positioned in the handle end of the bat and the chamber is disposed for receiving a weight. A knob is removably positioned on the end of the handle end of the bat whereby the knob closes the end of the hollow chamber.

Abstract: A device for setting a golf tee having a body with a side wall that has a tee-facing surface. A plurality of stepped recesses are vertically aligned and opened through the tee-facing surface. Each step section recess has a downwardly facing wall for contacting the top of a golf tee so that selective positioning of the golf tee within one of the step recess sections will allow the device to set the height of the tee above ground.

Abstract: A flipper control circuit is provided for a pinball machine having a flippper, a flipper switch for activating the flipper, means for holding the flipper in an actuated position until the flipper switch is deactivated, and a solenoid coil for controlling the movement of the flipper in response to the voltage applied to the solenoid coil. A first voltage is applied to the solenoid coil when the flipper switch is activated. A second holding voltage is applied to the solenoid coil when the flipper is in the actuated position, to hold the flipper in the actuated position until the flipper switch is deactivated. A switch electrically disconnects the first voltage from the solenoid coil when the flipper is in the actuated position.

Abstract: A tennis net is disclosed that will confine the balls that hit it. The net comprises two open-spaced meshworks connected at their top edges, and overlapping strips of flexible netting or other barrier material fastened to hang free from the inside surfaces of each of the meshworks. The open spaces in the meshworks are dimensioned such that a standard tennis ball will pass through the meshworks when directed at the framework. As a ball passes through the meshwork it will be intercepted by one of the overlapping strips of flexible petting and fall to the tennis court between the two meshworks.